Which Comics Should You Grab on Free Comic Book Day 2016?

We've written about the industry's odd reluctance to celebrate and analyze massive successes like manga import Attack on Titan or Raina Telgemeier's empire of middle-grade graphic novels, but the former is going to be much more difficult to ignore once Kodansha USA's English-original anthology drops. With a host of familiar names ranging from megastars Scott Snyder and Gail Simone to fan-favorite rising talent like Babs Tarr and Kate Leth, this collection of brand-new shorts set in the world of Hajime Isayama's skinless (or junk-less) giants is sure to attract franchise diehards and new eyes alike. Steve Foxe

While BOOM! and IDW are (rightly) praised for their flourishing licensed properties, Bongo's Matt Groening IP continues to fly under the radar, appealing primarily to longtime Springfield residents. Perhaps the diminishing returns of the show itself have poisoned Simpsons enthusiasm, but no one has bothered to tell Bongo, who consistently delivers comics on par with the show's better-loved seasons. This year's FCBD offering involves vampire orthodontics and pastry-themed criminals named Glutenus Maximus and Gluten Tag. Gluten Tag. Steve Foxe

While BOOM!/Archaia may have scaled back from offering free hardcovers (!), the publisher is still beloved for its generous FCBD participation, and this year is no exception: in addition to fresh Mouse Guard and Jim Henson's Labyrinth tales, BOOM!'s sampler includes previews of upcoming Adventure Time and Lumberjanes stories, a peek at Archaia OGN The Cloud and another chance to try out the recently launched girl-detective romp Goldie Vance. Few FCBD samplers offer as much bang for your nonexistent buck this year than Summer Blast. Steve Foxe

For being such a hardcore, continuity-obsessed corner of comics, DC doesn’t receive enough credit for producing some of the coolest, most accessible books targeted toward women and girls. Between the Burnside Batgirl, Gotham Academy and Harley Quinn, top talent has guaranteed that DC isn’t (strictly) a guys’ clubhouse. DC SuperHero Girls takes that aim to a younger age on a bigger scale, encompassing cartoons, toys, videogames and comics. Is it unabashedly commercial? Sure. But in an era where former Batman: The Animated Series guru Paul Dini recounted that execs shied away from toons with primarily female audiences because girls don’t buy toys, this is undeniable progress. And we expect hilarious explanations for how writer Shea Fontana and artist Yancey Labat will turn a homicidal clown and a plant-person ecoterrorist into kid-friendly heroines. Sean Edgar

Hardcore Avatar: The Last Airbender fans can tell you: the comics aren’t optional, they’re mandatory. Written by the showrunners, books like The Search and The Promise give insight downright necessary to fully understand characters like Prince Zuko. But that same excellence goes for any The Legend of Korra comic. How to Train Your Dragon and Plants Vs. Zombies round out one of the best all-ages offerings come this Saturday. Tini Howard

Are you ready for me to lose all of my cool points? I’ve never read Love & Rockets. I know, I know. But I’m most excited for this FCBD bit above all others, because now I have no excuse to postpone falling in love with everyone’s favorite comic book about a group of friends aging through love and loss and great music. This year, Fantagraphics is putting out a reprint sampler of some classic material with a new cover, designed as the perfect jumping-on point for new fans in anticipation of the series’ quarterly return. Tini Howard

Most FCBD items hint at larger series and projects down the line—“samplers” designed to hook you on an upcoming four-course meal. Not Tom Gauld, who’s offering self-contained microwave dinners this Saturday in a preview of his fall release, Mooncop. Towing the line between Randall Munroe (xkcd) and Monty Python, the British humorist elevates the one-page joke to high art, as seen in his collections You’re All Just Jealous of My Jet Pack and Goliath, as well as work in The Guardian. Gauld’s goofy stick figures may look deceptively simple, but his approach to religion, science, war and all manner of disappointment distills huge issues into laugh-out-loud strips. Sean Edgar

Over its decade-long existence, publisher First Second has taken on the role of the hip, sassy teacher who all the kids crush on and recall 20 years later when listing their greatest inspirations during Pulitzer speeches. From Young People’s Literature Ambassador Gene Luen Yang to nuclear engineer Jim Ottaviani, the writers and cartoonists under this umbrella pack serious brain cred while charming the pants off kids and adults alike with colorful, engaging storytelling. For its FCBD entry, First Second enlists Jon Chad and Maris Wicks (Human Body Theater) for sequential academia that’s way more fun than a bunch of dudes in unitards punching one another. Check back on Saturday when we reveal an exclusive preview of some marine biology wonderment. Sean Edgar

Okay, so it seemed like it was eventually going to happen: Steve Rogers returns to the Captain America mantle after jaunting around in a veteran, super-serum-less body. This year’s Marvel FCBD offering finally shows the original Captain America reclaiming his former physique. But that plot point alone isn’t as exciting as the top secret (almost-definitely Spider-Man-related) Dead No More tease here. Despite some early marketing revolving around that tantalizing phrase, nothing’s been formally announced—no creators, no characters, just the teaser. Of course, the House of Ideas also has a Civil War II preview out this FCBD, if you're into that sort of thing. Tini Howard

With Marvel and DC's constant cycle of sprawl, cancellation, rebirth and reboot, Valiant's more manageably sized universe is the perfect panacea for jilted superhero action fans, and few titles exemplify the publisher's strengths better than Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain's far-future Rai. Valiant's latest mega-crossover is set in the nano-enhanced ninja's chronology of 4001 A.D. and introduces familiar legacies in imaginative hyper-sci-fi iterations. This one-shot should bring you up to speed on the state of the Valiant universe and set your time travel coordinates for the just-launched event. Also of note: teaser ads suggesting new series to come in the following months. Steve Foxe

Punk-rock upstart publisher Black Mask has made a fast name for itself among comic readers thanks to critically acclaimed and much-buzzed books like We Can Never Go Home and Young Terrorists. This FCBD sampler gives newcomers a taste of both while bridging the gap between the first and upcoming second volume of WCNGH. The publisher recently announced its upcoming 2016 slate (including, full disclosure, a title written by Paste contributor Tini Howard), making this the perfect EP to whet your appetite. Steve Foxe

We've written about the industry's odd reluctance to celebrate and analyze massive successes like manga import Attack on Titan or Raina Telgemeier's empire of middle-grade graphic novels, but the former is going to be much more difficult to ignore once Kodansha USA's English-original anthology drops. With a host of familiar names ranging from megastars Scott Snyder and Gail Simone to fan-favorite rising talent like Babs Tarr and Kate Leth, this collection of brand-new shorts set in the world of Hajime Isayama's skinless (or junk-less) giants is sure to attract franchise diehards and new eyes alike. Steve Foxe

While BOOM! and IDW are (rightly) praised for their flourishing licensed properties, Bongo's Matt Groening IP continues to fly under the radar, appealing primarily to longtime Springfield residents. Perhaps the diminishing returns of the show itself have poisoned Simpsons enthusiasm, but no one has bothered to tell Bongo, who consistently delivers comics on par with the show's better-loved seasons. This year's FCBD offering involves vampire orthodontics and pastry-themed criminals named Glutenus Maximus and Gluten Tag. Gluten Tag. Steve Foxe

While BOOM!/Archaia may have scaled back from offering free hardcovers (!), the publisher is still beloved for its generous FCBD participation, and this year is no exception: in addition to fresh Mouse Guard and Jim Henson's Labyrinth tales, BOOM!'s sampler includes previews of upcoming Adventure Time and Lumberjanes stories, a peek at Archaia OGN The Cloud and another chance to try out the recently launched girl-detective romp Goldie Vance. Few FCBD samplers offer as much bang for your nonexistent buck this year than Summer Blast. Steve Foxe

For being such a hardcore, continuity-obsessed corner of comics, DC doesn’t receive enough credit for producing some of the coolest, most accessible books targeted toward women and girls. Between the Burnside Batgirl, Gotham Academy and Harley Quinn, top talent has guaranteed that DC isn’t (strictly) a guys’ clubhouse. DC SuperHero Girls takes that aim to a younger age on a bigger scale, encompassing cartoons, toys, videogames and comics. Is it unabashedly commercial? Sure. But in an era where former Batman: The Animated Series guru Paul Dini recounted that execs shied away from toons with primarily female audiences because girls don’t buy toys, this is undeniable progress. And we expect hilarious explanations for how writer Shea Fontana and artist Yancey Labat will turn a homicidal clown and a plant-person ecoterrorist into kid-friendly heroines. Sean Edgar

Hardcore Avatar: The Last Airbender fans can tell you: the comics aren’t optional, they’re mandatory. Written by the showrunners, books like The Search and The Promise give insight downright necessary to fully understand characters like Prince Zuko. But that same excellence goes for any The Legend of Korra comic. How to Train Your Dragon and Plants Vs. Zombies round out one of the best all-ages offerings come this Saturday. Tini Howard

Are you ready for me to lose all of my cool points? I’ve never read Love & Rockets. I know, I know. But I’m most excited for this FCBD bit above all others, because now I have no excuse to postpone falling in love with everyone’s favorite comic book about a group of friends aging through love and loss and great music. This year, Fantagraphics is putting out a reprint sampler of some classic material with a new cover, designed as the perfect jumping-on point for new fans in anticipation of the series’ quarterly return. Tini Howard

Most FCBD items hint at larger series and projects down the line—“samplers” designed to hook you on an upcoming four-course meal. Not Tom Gauld, who’s offering self-contained microwave dinners this Saturday in a preview of his fall release, Mooncop. Towing the line between Randall Munroe (xkcd) and Monty Python, the British humorist elevates the one-page joke to high art, as seen in his collections You’re All Just Jealous of My Jet Pack and Goliath, as well as work in The Guardian. Gauld’s goofy stick figures may look deceptively simple, but his approach to religion, science, war and all manner of disappointment distills huge issues into laugh-out-loud strips. Sean Edgar

Over its decade-long existence, publisher First Second has taken on the role of the hip, sassy teacher who all the kids crush on and recall 20 years later when listing their greatest inspirations during Pulitzer speeches. From Young People’s Literature Ambassador Gene Luen Yang to nuclear engineer Jim Ottaviani, the writers and cartoonists under this umbrella pack serious brain cred while charming the pants off kids and adults alike with colorful, engaging storytelling. For its FCBD entry, First Second enlists Jon Chad and Maris Wicks (Human Body Theater) for sequential academia that’s way more fun than a bunch of dudes in unitards punching one another. Check back on Saturday when we reveal an exclusive preview of some marine biology wonderment. Sean Edgar

Okay, so it seemed like it was eventually going to happen: Steve Rogers returns to the Captain America mantle after jaunting around in a veteran, super-serum-less body. This year’s Marvel FCBD offering finally shows the original Captain America reclaiming his former physique. But that plot point alone isn’t as exciting as the top secret (almost-definitely Spider-Man-related) Dead No More tease here. Despite some early marketing revolving around that tantalizing phrase, nothing’s been formally announced—no creators, no characters, just the teaser. Of course, the House of Ideas also has a Civil War II preview out this FCBD, if you're into that sort of thing. Tini Howard

With Marvel and DC's constant cycle of sprawl, cancellation, rebirth and reboot, Valiant's more manageably sized universe is the perfect panacea for jilted superhero action fans, and few titles exemplify the publisher's strengths better than Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain's far-future Rai. Valiant's latest mega-crossover is set in the nano-enhanced ninja's chronology of 4001 A.D. and introduces familiar legacies in imaginative hyper-sci-fi iterations. This one-shot should bring you up to speed on the state of the Valiant universe and set your time travel coordinates for the just-launched event. Also of note: teaser ads suggesting new series to come in the following months. Steve Foxe

Punk-rock upstart publisher Black Mask has made a fast name for itself among comic readers thanks to critically acclaimed and much-buzzed books like We Can Never Go Home and Young Terrorists. This FCBD sampler gives newcomers a taste of both while bridging the gap between the first and upcoming second volume of WCNGH. The publisher recently announced its upcoming 2016 slate (including, full disclosure, a title written by Paste contributor Tini Howard), making this the perfect EP to whet your appetite. Steve Foxe

This Saturday marks the 15th Free Comic Book Day, a borderline holiday when select retailers unload pounds of sequential art goodness to the masses at no charge. At its heart, this annual event offers a huge amount of goodwill for the medium—publishers and the retailers (who still pay a fee) are reaching out to new audiences to enjoy an art form that receives criminally less support than the millions-grossing films based on its characters and storylines. There’s literally no downside to venturing out to this comic party; it’s gratis to its core.

That said, most stores (reasonably) have a limit on how many books one visitor can take—usually two or three. And the books range drastically in content and maturity. Marvel and DC will unleash superhero fare to match their multimedia output, but other publishers offer horror, education, indie slice-of-life and all manner of paneled storytelling. Across that huge spectrum, here are the comics we found the most intriguing, representing an array of genres to mirror the richness of the medium.